HOCKEY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143586, 26 August 1911, Page 8

HOCKEY.

(By “Circle.”)

All interest this week was centred round Thursday’s match at Inglewood, when Stratford and Inglewood teams met to decide the championship of Taranaki. There was a very fair crowd of onlookers, despite the fact that a football match was being [flayed on the adjoining ground. Both clubs rvere at full strength, and both confident of winning. The game on the whole was a good exhibition of the game, although infringements of the rules were fairly common. Referee Paterson wisely overlooked several.

“Sticks” were common, E. Harris (Inglewood full-back) being a frequent offender. A very noticeable fault was the tbrowing-in of the wings on both sides. On one occasion the referee had to show how it ought to bo done, and rolled the ball in himself. Tockcr, Stratford’s bully, was several times pulled up for not hitting tho third time, and indeed many of his bullies, from which he invariably got the advantage, were certainly questionable. Of the Inglewood team, Stephens ns goal-keeper had not a great deal to do, but effected one or two good saves. Welham was the best of the backs, and plaved solidly throughout, while "Mick” Harris’s hard hitting was often useful to his side. Priest, Sutherland and Jno. and Jas. Harris all showed up prominently at times. Les. Curtis was a tower of strength to the red and blacks, and saved his forwards a lot of running. K. B. and W. D. Anderson also played well at full and half-hack respectively, while all the forward line, 11. Cameron, 1. Malone, Tocker, Dudson and Griffon played well. It was stated yesterday that the playoff would take place in New Plymouth next Thursdav, but it now seems doubtful whether New Plvmouth or Hawera will have tho match. Tho poorness of the Stratford ground robbed the inland town of the match, and unless ft ground ran be mutually agreed upon, a special meeting of the association will have to be called. According to tho rules governing tho Shield contests the game shall be played in two spells of thirty-five minutes apiece. If the scores are then even the contestants change ends, and play may continue for two further spells of fifteen minutes each unless a score is registered in the meantime. Thursday’s match was played under these rules excepting that the extra spells were of ten minutes each instead of fifteen. As a goal was not forthcoming the game continued until the bitter The date of the Anckland-Taranaki match, which this year will be played in New Plymouth, is still undecided. Auckland would like to play on September 14, hut on account of the same provinces playing football here on that date. the.day is unsuitable from many standpoints to the Taranaki Association, who hope it will take place the following week, 21st.

Great interest is being taken- in the forthcoming ladies’ tournament, which commences in Wellington next Saturday. It is to bo hoped that Taranaki will be more successful this year, and the team should stand a good chance of winning the shield. In view of the tournament starting on Saturday, the Taranaki team will leave by the express train on Thursday, 31st inst. The new teams taking part are Canterbury A and B, Mahawatu A and B, Marlborough and Southland. West Coast is evidently the team known last year as Greymouth, and Buller was known as AVestport last season. Otago has not entered this year. _ . A match between the Hawke s Bay lady representatives and another team was played at Nelson Park, Napier, last Saturday for the purpose of giving the reps, some practice. The match was a very scrappy one, and resulted. m favour of the reps, by two goals to nil. It is to be hoped (says the local Herald) that the reps, will have other opportunities of, playing together, for they need more combination than was shown oii Saturday. This plainly shows that other associations are attaching some importance to the tourney, and the local association -would do well to follow this advice early next week. According to the Press, the Canterbury team as it stands is a very strong one, each player being excellent in individual play, ns was shown in the trials. As regards combination, there are old representative players among the forwards, halves and backs, and these players, with their greater knowledge of representative games, will hold the team together and give the nowplayers more confidence. There is no doubt that, after one or two practices, the team should play as fine a combination game' as one could wish to see. ‘ , , . Wellington’s lady hockey players were also busv last Saturday in preparation for the’ big hockey tournament, at which they will be competing. Their preparation consisted in a cbnple of trial games, one senior and one junior.